Community Review | Corey Avenue District 2014

Corey Avenue Community Review

Commission Meeting March 26th, 27th, 2014

Health Benefits of Good Urban Design

• Incentivizes walking or biking, instead of driving – promoting exercise
• Increases social connections among neighbors

From: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) https://goo.gl/b7EAjs

Safety Benefits of Good Urban Design

• Well-designed streets attract more pedestrians who keep watch over one another.
• Improved streetscapes and traffic calming devices provide buffers between pedestrians, bicyclists and automobile traffic
• More pedestrians on the street actually decreases the likelihood that one will be struck by a driver.

From: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) https://goo.gl/PGiFEf

Economics of Biking

• A 2008 study in Portland clocked bicycle-related industry alone as contributing $90 million to the local economy every year.
• In 2010, Wisconsin recorded a yearly $1.5 billion bike economy . . . Bicycle tourism.

Return on Public Investment

• For every $1 invested into a downtown, there is a $32 return into the community. – National Main Street Institute
• The Barracks Row/8th St SE District in Washington DC – $8 million invested in public funds. Within two years, the private sector invested additional $8 million – 32 new businesses – Source: CT Main Street
• A $4.5 million investment in streetscape and pedestrian improvements on School Street are credited with helping attract: – 60 new businesses – Decreasing the vacancy rate from 18% to 6% – Increasing downtown sales tax revenue by 30% http://www.rsa.cc/images/EconomicValueOfActiveTransportation. “The Economic Benefits of Walkable Communities,” by the Local Government Commission for the California Department of Health Services.
• A $10 million investment in traffic calming, a fountain, a public event space and building restoration transformed a run-down downtown. In the 5 years between 1993 and 1998 . . – Property values went from $10-$40/sq.ft. to $50-$100/sq.ft. – Commercial rents went from $6/sq.ft. to $30/sq.ft. – Brought occupancy up to 80% and attracted $350 million in private investment to the area http://www.rsa.cc/images/EconomicValueOfActiveTransportation. pdf “The Economic Benefits of Walkable Communities,” by LGC for the California Department of Health Services.

This information can be found on the city website: www.stpetebeach.org/news-and-links/corey-avenue-district-plan.html